That is big. First Jon Rahm, now Justin Rose. Two of Europe’s biggest names have done a number on the USA coming down 18! Rose can’t stop smiling, and no wonder. That putt means every single European player has put up at least half a point today; it means the USA have failed to win a single match on the opening day; and it means Europe only need eight more points to regain the Ryder Cup. Yes, yes, an awfully long way to go before we can seriously contemplate any of that … but this is dreamland for Team Europe. The holders have an awful lot of thinking to do tonight, a fact betrayed by the deep furrow running across poor Zach Johnson’s brow. How will the USA respond to this debacle tomorrow? They’ve got too much quality to take this lying down, surely. Then again, Europe have the quality to inflict this day-one scoreline on them. Saturday promises to be super all right; hope you’ll follow the action with us. Back here in the morning for day two? It’s a date! Nighty night.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka
MacIntyre/Rose A/S Homa/Clark
4&3 McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele
Europe 6½-1½ USA

… underhits his putt by the smallest margin. It slides off to the left on its last turn. Another couple of joules, and Justin Rose now has the chance to make a birdie putt that would seriously deflate the USA (as if they’re not already downbeat enough). He lines up from eight feet, and …

Clark’s chip back on lands by the flag but rolls a good six feet past. MacIntyre up next. Can he put a new complexion on an underwhelming day’s work by sinking a heroic putt at the last? No, though to be fair he gives it a good go, his big left-to-right swinger from 30 feet stopping 18 inches or so to the left of the cup. Not that it ever looked like dropping. Over to Homa, who can save the day for the USA by making this birdie putt. He prowls around, then steps up, and …

Homa first. He wedges to 12 feet. Rose then gets a couple of feet inside him. MacIntyre’s effort is no good, really, into the heart of the green but miles from the flag. He’s struggled today. Clark then blades his chip from the top of the bank, trampled down by punters. His ball bounds through the green and nearly finds the drink on the other side. He’s very fortunate that the rough stops him getting wet. But Europe now have a proper chance of snatching the hole and with it half a point.

… but it’s easy to forget that while Wyndham Clark is a world-class operator and the US Open champion, he’s also a Ryder Cup rookie. The unique pressures, etc. He slices his long iron deep into the gallery to the right of the green, and it’s an up-and-down shootout now.

Homa punches down from the top of the bank. He’s slightly fortunate that, having overcooked the lay-up, his ball sits up atop the first cut, as opposed to disappearing into the thicker stuff a couple of feet further on. MacIntyre and Rose lay up too, finding the fairway. All three really had no option. Over to Clark, who is in pole position to take a shy at the green and surely settle this match.

MacIntyre pushes his tee shot into the thick rough down the right. Rose looks to have found the left-hand side of the fairway but the ball takes a gentle kick left and scampers into a bunker. Homa carves his tee shot off into serious trouble down the right. Only Clark finds the fairway, and with quite the belt too. He’s miles down there, and with the US only needing a half to secure their first full point of the day, the visiting pair are in the box seat here.

Europe stay alive in the only remaining match out on the course! None of the four players trouble the green with their tee shots on the par-three 17th, but Justin Rose is the only one who flicks a wedge to knock-in distance. His par is enough to win the hole, and everyone will be heading down the last. Should the USA fail to hold onto this point as well, it’d be little short of a disaster for the visitors, who were looking good to eat a little bit into Europe’s lead … but the best they can do now is to square the session. A huge final hole coming up!

MacIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (17)
Europe 6-1 USA

Andy Bull is in Italy. Here’s his take on Scandinavia’s finest!

Brooks Koepka sends his second at 18 up a grassy bank to the right of the green. With Jon Rahm on in two, the reigning PGA champion has to go close … and he flops delicately to three feet! Scottie Scheffler gets equally close from a more promising position off the front, and it looks as though Rahm will have to rake home and eagle putt from the best part of 30 feet if Europe are to snatch half a point.

Bob MacIntyre races his eagle putt at 16 six feet past the hole, and he can’t make the one coming back. A fantastic tee shot is followed by a dismal three-putt, and with Wyndham Clark having made birdie from a similar position, the USA are dormie two in match three.

Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka 1UP (17)
MacIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (16)
Europe 5½-½ USA

Scrub that about Bob MacIntyre not bringing his best stuff! He sends a power fade into the front of the driveable par-four 16th. He’ll have a good look at eagle. Rory McIlroy looks to close out the anchor match by sending his approach at 15 to ten feet. And on 18, it’s JT v Europe yet again, Spieth having carelessly dunked his wedged approach into the water. Thomas nearly holes his chip from the bottom of the bank at the front of the green. He’ll surely be making birdie, which means either Viktor Hovland or Tyrrell Hatton have to make their 20-foot putts to secure at least a half. Hovland steps up, and …

Two par putts for the US duo of Homa and Clark from ten feet or so at 15. Neither can make them, and that’s the hole to Europe, who are still in this third match despite neither MacIntyre or Rose bringing their best stuff.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (17)
Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka 1UP (17)
MacIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (15)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (14)
Europe 4-0 USA

Scheffler’s brilliance has rattled Rahm, who doesn’t hit his birdie putt. Egregiously tentative. He covers his eyes with a hand before squeezing in irritation. He’s given Scheffler the line, too. He rolls it into the centre of the cup and punches the air powerfully in celebration before it drops. “Come on!” That’s a classic matchplay turnaround, and the USA are guaranteed at least half a point now.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (17)
Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka 1UP (17)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (14)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (14)
Europe 4-0 USA

Schauffele has a three-footer on 14 to grab back yet another hole off McIlroy and Fitzpatrick. But for the third time today, he pulls a short one wide left. That means Europe are dormie four.

The USA next on 18, and both JT and Spieth send their tee shots into the rough down the left. The former in the first cut, the latter in the second. Then back on 17, Scheffler nearly slam dunks his tee shot into the cup for an ace! A huge pitchmark an inch to the left of the cup. His ball bounds five feet past. That suddenly puts a tonne of pressure on Rahm’s putt, which will suddenly look twice the distance.

Hojgaard pulls his tee shot at 17 into the drink to the left of the green. It’s all down to Rahm … and he’s not a two-time major winner for nothing. Over the flag he goes, and his ball bites ten feet behind. Meanwhile it’s one good, one bad for Europe on 18 as well, Hovland hoicking his tee shot towards the trees down the right, Hatton responding by booming one down the left side of the fairway.

No need for Hojgaard to take his eagle putt, though! Jon Rahm chips in from the back of the green, and this match is guaranteed to go up the last! A huge roar rips through the tension that had been building as the USA set about their business of repairing the damage of the morning. Meanwhile the putting competition on 17 fails to produce a winner, with three disappointing birdie efforts, and the lead match heads to the 18th tee all square.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (17)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (16)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (14)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (13)
Europe 4-0 USA

A couple of big tee shots for Europe here! Hatton sends one at the par-three 17th over the flag to 12 feet. Hovland in the environs too. Thomas responds by finding the nearby fringe, only a couple of feet out. Spieth can’t make it four out of four, though, his ball disappearing into the rough to the right of the hole. Meanwhile back on the driveable 16th, Hojgaard sends a gentle fade into the green, and he’ll have a very good look at eagle indeed. That’s one of the shots of the day.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (16)
Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka 1UP (15)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (13)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (12)
Europe 4-0 USA

Jonathan Liew is in Italy as well. He’s been hanging around the first tee, and here’s his take.

Brooks Koepka drains a 30-foot birdie putt across 15, and for the first time today allows himself the satisfaction of a smile, a yell and a fist-pump. The US hit the lead in the second match at a crucial stage. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy clips his tee shot at 13 to eight feet, but can’t make the birdie putt to move Europe to dormie five. And on 16 it’s Justin Thomas versus Europe again, Jordan Spieth having dunked his tee shot in the water. But this time he can’t salvage the situation, his birdie putt always staying on the high side, Tyrrell Hatton’s three enough to level the match!

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (16)
Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka 1UP (15)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (13)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (12)
Europe 4-0 USA

The momentum is with the USA all right! On 12, Collin Morikawa sends his second from 200 yards to 20 feet, and two putts later his birdie wins another hole back for the Americans! They couldn’t, could they? Surely not. But they could! They almost certainly won’t. But they might! The unique pressure of the Ryder Cup, right here.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (15)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (14)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (13)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (12)
Europe 4-0 USA

The first bit of edge! Justin Thomas chips up to six feet from the bottom of the swale at 15. Viktor Hovland’s birdie putt, from 12 feet, teeters on the right-hand edge of the cup but stubbornly refuses to drop. Thomas lines up his putt, prepares to take it … and steps away, his concentration broken by the crowd. He gets back over the ball, smacks it into the centre of the cup, and that’s a huge escape for the USA. Thomas turns to stare out the crowd, then spins around with an AW YEAH! And it must be contagious, because on 13, Wyndham Clark drains a 30-foot birdie putt, and there’s suddenly a cushion in for the USA in match three!

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (15)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (14)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (13)
5UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (11)
Europe 4-0 USA

Sean Ingle is in Italy. His Ryder Cup diary is here.

In the lead match, Spieth can only advance his ball into a greenside trap. Meanwhile Thomas, from the fairway bunker, fails to get over the false front, and his ball topples back down the hole. Hovland and Hatton are both on in regulation, and Europe have a big opportunity to respond to losing two holes in row by winning two.

Nicolai Hojgaard hasn’t let that poor putt at 13 affect him. He tramlines a 20-footer on 14 for birdie, and the hole’s shared with Brooks Koepka, who was in close. Scottie Scheffler had a short birdie putt too, but that flat stick continues to betray the world number one. The tightest of matches remains all square.

Bob McIntyre’s eagle putt on 12 drifts by. But it’s a birdie. Wyndham Clark ties the hole by raking in a right-to-left 25-foot curler, and though Max Homa was close in, and would probably have made birdie himself, that’ll give the US team quite the fillip, and they remain one hole up.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (14)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (13)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (12)
5UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (11)
Europe 4-0 USA

Hovland and Hatton batter their drives at 15 down the track. The momentum’s with Europe again in this match now, and Thomas and Spieth don’t respond particularly well, the former finding sand down the right, the latter pulling wildly to the left.

A hole at last for Morikawa and Schauffele! The former chips delicately from the bottom of a greenside bank to six inches, and the birdie’s enough to reduce the arrears to five holes with seven to play.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (14)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (13)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (11)
5UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (11)
Europe 4-0 USA

Spieth and Thomas take turns to thrash their balls from the tangled rough onto the green. That’s an achievement in itself. Spieth can’t make his long par saver, but at least he gives Thomas a read … but it’s always drifting wide left. Hatton is 12 feet away with two putts for the hole, but he only needs one, and walks off smiling widely. America’s lead in the opening fourball is cut in half.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (14)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (13)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (11)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (10)
Europe 4-0 USA

Nicolai Hojgaard sails a gorgeous tee shot into the par-three 13th. He leaves himself an eight-footer for birdie … and it’s for the hole, Scottie Scheffler sending his tee shot wide left of the green, Brooks Koepka missing his birdie putt from 15 feet. But the young Dane debutant pulls a dreadfully timid putt wide left, and the USA get away with one. The match remains all square.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 2UP (13)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (13)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (11)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (10)
Europe 4-0 USA

The lead USA team are in a spot of bother at 14. Spieth, having flayed his tee shot towards a tree down the left, can only squirt his second into thick oomska at the front-right of the green. Then Thomas inexplicably sends his iron from the middle of the fairway, over the green and down a bank covered in the thickest filth. With Hatton pin high in two, there’s a huge chance for Europe to grab a hole back here … though with the caveat that Spieth is capable of anything with his wedge.

Scottie Scheffler so close to grabbing the lead for the USA in the second game … but what looks like a fairly straight eagle putt from 15 feet dies to the right one turn away from the hole. Meanwhile on 11, Wyndham Clark nearly holes out from the back of the green for eagle, but has to settle for birdie, a score Justin Rose matches by rattling in a knee-knocker of a six-footer. The one obvious exception aside, these afternoon matches are all up for grabs, though the momentum is with the USA, albeit not in any dramatic sense. At least not yet. A big 30 minutes or so coming up, I’ll be bound.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 2UP (13)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (12)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (11)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (10)
Europe 4-0 USA

Collin Morikawa rolls a birdie putt into the heart of the cup at 10. A consolation hole for the USA? Nope. Rory McIlroy follows him in from 12 feet, and Europe remain six up, with just eight holes to play now. A reminder that Matt Fitzpatrick’s career Ryder Cup record, after two previous appearances, is played five, lost five. That sorry streak will surely be over soon.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 2UP (13)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (11)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (10)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (10)
Europe 4-0 USA

On Sky Sports, Sir Nick Faldo observes that the US team “have done a good job of not panicking”. They’re currently on course to cut into Europe’s lead this afternoon, though there’s still an awfully long way to go. Birdie for Jordan Spieth at the par-three 13th will help their cause, and suddenly the hosts are up against it in the lead match with holes running out.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 2UP (13)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (11)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (10)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (9)
Europe 4-0 USA

Hovland and Hatton make their way scrappily up the par-five 11th. They end up with a couple of mid-range birdie efforts, and neither player gets anywhere close with their putt. Spieth snatches the hole with a birdie putt from ten feet, an effort made a whole lot easier by his partner Justin Thomas sitting close by in three, having crashed a drive the best part of 400 yards down the hole, going on to narrowly miss an eagle putt. Some more red on the board, though there’s better news for Europe in match three, as Max Homa misses a birdie putt from eight feet, allowing Justin Rose to take the hole from five.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (12)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (11)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (10)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (9)
Europe 4-0 USA

Jon Rahm nearly drives the par-four 11th. His ball stops at the bottom of the false front. Rahm chips up delicately to kick-in distance, the ball taking a couple of hops before screeching to a halt. That’ll be a birdie … but it’s just a half, because Scottie Scheffler rolls in a 20-footer for birdie of his own.

An eagle putt from 25 feet on 9 and a chance for Team USA to snatch back a hole. Collin Morikawa is even given a read by Xander Schauffele, but he doesn’t learn from his partner’s putt, the ball missing on the low side, and Europe hit the turn in great nick.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (11)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (10)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (9)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (9)
Europe 4-0 USA

… and there’s more American momentum to be found at 10. Two bogeys by Rahm and Hojgaard present the hole to Scheffler and Koepka in par.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (11)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (10)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 2UP (9)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (8)
Europe 4-0 USA

Jordan Spieth chips up from the bottom of the swale at 11 to a couple of feet. That’s outrageously good. Also fine: the birdie putt that Tyrrell Hatton trundles in from 15 feet to ensure at least a half. Spieth tidies up and that’s what it is. And completing the triptych, back on 9 Wyndham Clark sends a booming fade into the heart of the green, from the best part of 300 yards to 20 feet. Two putts later, it’s a birdie that doubles the USA’s lead. It’s the first time the US have reached 2UP in any match.

Trouble afoot for Europe at 10. Rahm sends his tee shot into the rough down the left, then picks up his tee, spins through 180 degrees, and throws it away like a dart while screaming the EFF word. God love him. He muscles out of the rough but even he can’t heave it up towards the green from there. Hojgaard also topples off the false front and with Scottie Scheffler on in two, this is advantage USA.

Viktor Hovland creams his tee shot at the short par-four 11th onto the back of the green. Justin Thomas sends his into the thick stuff over the back, while Jordan Spieth’s drive disappears down a swale to the right of the green. Meanwhile the pairs in the final match share the long par-four 8th in par, and that’s stemmed the bleeding for the USA after six lost holes on the bounce.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (10)
1UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (9)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (8)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (8)
Europe 4-0 USA

Max Homa and Justin Rose trade mid-range par putts to share the spoils at 8. Scottie Scheffler’s birdie at 9 cuts into Europe’s lead in match two; Jon Rahm is fuming after carelessly three-putting. And Matt Fitzpatrick’s hot streak has inspired Simon McMahon into penning some doggerel poetry. Here it is!

There was a young golfer called Matty
Whose style on the course was called ‘natty’
A Ryder Cup story
With his partner Rory
His putting drove USA! batty

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (9)
1UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (9)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (8)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (7)
Europe 4-0 USA

Reports suggest the Spieth-Hovland pow-wow was a result of confusion over putting order. Seems the Europeans weren’t aware of the rule that allows partners to putt out of sequence, so were surprised/confused to see Justin Thomas have his go first despite being closer to the hole than Spieth, who was furthest away of the four players and therefore ensured Team USA were next up. So all something and nothing by the sounds of it.

BREAKING NEWS: MATT FITZPATRICK MISSES A PUTT!!! Yes, he really has done that. But it doesn’t really matter, because Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele both hit their tee shots at 7 over the back of the green, and can’t chip back close. In fact Morikawa, at the bottom of the bank by a creek, sends a flyer back over the green and off the front. And after Fitzpatrick’s birdie putt dies off to the right, Rory McIlroy rolls his in from 15 feet for his first contribution of the afternoon. That’s dovetailing all right! That is beyond outrageous, and Morikawa and Schauffele’s brains must be addled.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (9)
2UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (8)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (7)
6UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (7)
Europe 4-0 USA

Viktor Hovland and Jordan Spieth get involved in a fairly in-depth conversation as they make their way to the 10th tee. Not sure what it’s about. For a second it looked like the discussion was going to be sharp and short, and yet the pair seemed to part on friendly enough terms. Strange.

Some red on the board again! Wyndham Clark fires an arrow straight at the flag on the par-three 7th, and is never missing the short putt he leaves himself. The Americans have turned this game around in short order. But up on 8, it’s a third birdie in a row for Nicolai Hojgaard, and the third hole won by the 22-year-old debutant! Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka took turns to miss good birdie chances of their own from 15 feet there. And a sickener for the USA on 9, as Justin Thomas makes birdie, only for Viktor Hovland to match him by rolling in a 15-footer. That’ll hurt because Hovland make his bird despite topping his second shot in the weekend style. Nothing fazes the FedEx champ right now.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (9)
2UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (8)
McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark 1UP (7)
5UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (6)
Europe 4-0 USA

“Oh Matthew Fitzpatrick!” The home gallery serenade the hottest player out there today to the tune of Seven Nation Army. That’s because he rolls in his birdie putt, and he’s now six under on his ball through 6. That cranks up the pressure on Xander Schauffele, who pulls his own short putt to gift the hole to Europe. Shades of the 15th in the foursomes this morning.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
1UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (7)
McIntyre/Rose A/S Homa/Clark (6)
5UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (6)
Europe 4-0 USA

Matt Fitzpatrick just keeps on keepin’ on! He hits his wedges from 128 yards at 6 and twirls it with great contentment. It’s the universal sign for Nailed It. And that’s what he’s done, landing his ball three feet from the flag. Can anyone stop him? Well, perhaps Xander Schauffele might, as he wedges in to similar distance.

Max Homa rakes in a long birdie putt across 6. He needed to, as well, because Justin Rose had sent his approach over the flag and spun it back to three feet. Homa’s putt secures a half, and at the moment, the USA must be wondering what they have to do here. They’re finding it nigh-on impossible to make any inroads on the scoreboard.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
1UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (7)
McIntyre/Rose A/S Homa/Clark (6)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (5)
Europe 4-0 USA

Rory McIlroy is reduced to laughter at the sheer audacity of his partner’s antics. Fitzpatrick has gone par, birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle! Meanwhile it must be catching, because back on 7, Nicolai Hojgaard is the only player to make his putt, and that’s a second win of the round for the debutant! Things beginning to go Europe’s way again.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
1UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (7)
McIntyre/Rose A/S Homa/Clark (5)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (5)
Europe 4-0 USA

Collin Morikawa follows Matt Fitzpatrick by setting up a fine eagle chance on 5. But his putt stubbornly stays up on the right. That opens the door for Fitzpatrick, who rolls in his eagle putt, roars with delight, and walks off five under through five holes on his own ball!

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (6)
McIntyre/Rose A/S Homa/Clark (5)
4UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (5)
Europe 4-0 USA

Hovland’s birdie putt on 8 from 25 feet shaves the hole. Spieth has the opportunity to regain the lead with a straight uphill 20-footer, but leaves it one turn short. Never die wondering, kids. The hole’s shared.

Matt Fitzpatrick’s stunning early form continues apace. He creams a 3-wood into the heart of the driveable par-four 5th, his ball rolling past the flag and stopping ten feet behind. A huge eagle opportunity coming up. He’s not going to make five one-putts in a row, is he? Meanwhile everyone in the second group sets up a putting competition on the par-three 7th, though Nicolai Hojgaard is the closest of the four by a good few feet.

Justin Thomas sends his tee shot dangerously close to the drink down the left of the long par-four 8th. He stays dry, but only just, and the ball’s tangled up in knee-high rough. He can only advance the ball a couple of yards in the rough, but hacks out at the second attempt. With Viktor Hovland on in two, it’s all down to Jordan Spieth, who responds by sending a high draw pin high to 20 feet.

Matt Fitzpatrick uses his putter for a fourth time today. You know the drill. In goes yet another birdie putt, his third in a row to go along with the par saver on 1. This is astonishing. Europe are threatening to run away with the fourth match. However there’s some better news for the USA in the third game, with the US Open champion Wyndham Clark making birdie at 5. The first three matches are now all square. It’s going to be a fun afternoon.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (7)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (6)
McIntyre/Rose A/S Homa/Clark (5)
3UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (4)
Europe 4-0 USA

It took the best part of six-and-a-half hours for the USA to put up the first splash of red on today’s leaderboard. It’s only taken 14 minutes for Europe to wipe it back off. Justin Thomas sends a fine tee shot at the par-three 7th to 15 feet, only for Viktor Hovland to pearl his to four. JT can’t make his birdie putt, and Hovland tidies up to level the match again.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (7)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (5)
1UP McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark (4)
2UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (3)
Europe 4-0 USA

Back-to-back birdies for Matt Fitzpatrick! He’s really got that flat stick warmed up. An approach to 12 feet, the birdie effort drained, and he’s not missed a putt yet. Europe go two up in the afternoon anchor match.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (6)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (5)
1UP McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark (4)
2UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (3)
Europe 4-0 USA

Jordan Spieth fires his chip into the bank and bumps it up to kick-in distance. He really is a force of nature. Seve-esque, and that’s before we start on the comparable wild and wacky driving. But the USA aren’t to be denied. Neither Viktor Hovland nor Tyrrell Hatton can make their birdie putts, and when JT rolls in his from six feet, the visitors put the first flash of red on the scoreboard today.

Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (6)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (5)
1UP McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark (3)
1UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (2)
Europe 4-0 USA

Viktor Hovland turns the pressure up on Team USA in the lead match, wedging from 125 yards to ten feet. The gauntlet down, Jordan Spieth sends his approach down a swale to the right. That really gives Justin Thomas a challenge, but he’s up to it, sticking his iron pin high to eight feet or so. Last up is Tyrrell Hatton, who having hit his shot spins around waving his club in hot tantrum-tinged irritation, only for the ball to land 15 feet from the flag. High standards, huh. Putting contest coming up … unless Spieth chips in, of course, which is far from beyond the realms of possibility.

Matt Fitzpatrick has his putting boots on today all right. Having walked in a mid-range putt to salvage a half on 1, he sends a dead-weight right-to-left slider from 25 feet at 2 for birdie. Meanwhile up on 4, Brooks Koepka looks on in disbelief as his chip up from the side of the green flashes into the flagstick but somehow doesn’t drop. That leaves Jon Rahm with a long straight birdie putt to snatch the hole … but he hits a fairly timid effort that stops three feet short. But the Americans don’t ask to see it, because Nicolai Hojgaard has a par putt of similar length too, and they don’t expect the Europeans to miss both.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (5)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (4)
1UP McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark (3)
1UP McIlroy/Fitzpatrick v Morikawa/Schauffele (2)
Europe 4-0 USA

Viktor Hovland is this close to holing out from 50 yards for eagle on the short par-four 5th. To think a couple of years ago, there were serious worries that his short game might hold him back. What progress the FedEx champion has made. It’s enough for the half, with Jordan Spieth, who was chipping from much closer range, wedging to kick-in distance.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (5)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (3)
1UP McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark (2)
McIlroy/Fitzpatrick A/S Morikawa/Schauffele (1)
Europe 4-0 USA

Par for Brooks Koepka proves enough to win the hole at 3, and the USA tie up another match. Aside from a small 30-minute chink of light towards the end of the morning foursomes – and that proved little more than an illusion – this is the first sense of the USA gaining a modicum of momentum. A first American lead of the day on the horizon?

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (4)
Rahm/Hojgaard A/S Scheffler/Koepka (3)
1UP McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark (2)
McIlroy/Fitzpatrick A/S Morikawa/Schauffele (1)
Europe 4-0 USA

Jordan Spieth does what Jordan Spieth does. From an awkward spot in the rough to the side of the par-three 4th, Spieth punches out a wedge and rolls straight into the cup. The flag was out, he fancied that. Brilliant birdie, and with Tyrrell Hatton unable to make his putt from the fringe, the lead match is tied up again. If Spieth is in one of his moods, Europe watch out! Meanwhile birdie for Justin Rose at 2, the reward for knocking his approach to five feet, and so Europe remain up in two of the four matches.

Hovland/Hatton A/S Thomas/Spieth (4)
1UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (2)
1UP McIntyre/Rose v Homa/Clark (2)
McIlroy/Fitzpatrick A/S Morikawa/Schauffele (1)
Europe 4-0 USA

Thanks Gregg … and what a lovely moment to come back to, as Matt Fitzpatrick walks in a par putt from 15 feet on 1 to keep the afternoon anchor match tied. The USA still haven’t led any match at any point today.

1UP Hovland/Hatton v Thomas/Spieth (3)
1UP Rahm/Hojgaard v Scheffler/Koepka (2)
McIntyre/Rose A/S Homa/Clark (1)
McIlroy/Fitzpatrick A/S Morikawa/Schauffele (1)
Europe 4-0 USA

Right, your main man Scott Murray is back from his lunch break now and ready to guide you through the afternoon’s action. Enjoy!

On the 1st, Robert McIntyre watches Max Homa sink a 9-footer for birdie but then steps up, calm as you like, to tie for Europe with a similar length putt to tie the hole. Very cool. He gets a backslap from veteran partner Rose for that one. Europe aren’t letting the US get a sniff.

A/S Robert McIntyre / Justin Rose v Max Homa / Wyndham Clark (1)

All four matches are under way. The last fourballs is: Rory McIlroy / Matt Fitzpatrick v Collin Morikawa / Xander Schauffele. McIlroy, perhaps a bit too pumped up, sends his drive whistling wide right. But it’s so far over that way that he gets a very decent lie in some trampled down rough.

Up on the 3rd, Spieth and Thomas are both on the green in two and will hope to strike back for the US.

Justin Rose is this close to a birdie on the 1st. It was a putt from some distance and he read the green brilliantly, but the ball just pulled up an inch or two short.

Europe’s captain Luke Donald speaks: “It’s the perfect start for us. I’m so happy with the way the guys came out and got leads early on – which is paramount in matchplay. We know the US will want to come back fighting. But I couldn’t be happier. It’s not easy in foursomes to go out as a rookie. This team has great unity and they’re very fired up. We have faith in all 12 players and we wanted to get everyone out today. These a strong (fourballs) pairings as well. The [crowd] are our 13th man. We have to feed off their energy. They’ve been loud and passionate.” On the 2nd it’s pars all round.

1 UP Viktor Hovland / Tyrrell Hatton v Justin Thomas / Jordan Spieth (2)

It’s another birdie for Europe on the 1st! Hojgaard, who found the rough with his first, recovered brilliantly, sinking a 47-footer (yes, that’s right) for birdie. What. A. Putt. The rookie is doing OK isn’t he? Koepka tries to halve the hole from distance but doesn’t get close.

1 UP Jon Rahm / Nicolai Hojgaard v Scottie Scheffler / Brooks Koepka (1)

More cheers on the 1st as the third match begins. It’s Robert McIntyre and Justin Rose v Max Homa and Wyndham Clark. Rose holds his arms aloft and soaks up the love. Well, why not? His drive is decent, too. Right to the centre of the fairway.

Back on the 1st, Hovland and Koepka are both on the green but spare a thought for Scheffler, who almost bends his wrists back as he hacks out of the rough for little reward with his second. It was embedded in the thick stuff. Horrible.

And those cheers were for Hatton, who takes advantage of a missed Spieth putt to keep Europe’s momentum going with a solid 8-footer to take the early advantage in the first of the fourballs. Hatton’s second made that possible. It was a glorious shot out of the bunker.

1 UP Viktor Hovland / Tyrrell Hatton v Justin Thomas / Jordan Spieth (1)
Europe 4-0 USA

Back on the 1st tee, the second match is under way. It’s Jon Rahm and Nicolai Hojgaard v Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. Every practice swing is cheered heartily by the boisterous crowd. Rahm and Koepka play two very safe tee shots on to the fairway as cheers can be heard up ahead! Hojgaard finds a bunker and Scheffler the rough.

Thomas looks in the groove and ready to strike back for the USA. He attacks his second shot and is on the 1st green in two. The front of the green, too, with a birdie chance. Spieth plays the better shot out of the rough, carrying all the way through to the fringe but Hovland has a trickier lie and has no control over his second shot, sending it whistling to the right of the green, where the grass looks wispy. But the best shot comes from Hatton, who clatters out of the bunker and loads his ball with so much backspin that he watches it land and moonwalk back to within around 8ft of the hole. Lovely stuff.

It’s a mixed bag from the Americans, with Justin Thomas thrashing his drive to the middle of the 1st fairway, but Spieth dragging his into some thick looking rough wide left. Hovland follows Spieth into the very same vegetation but Hatton – perhaps feeling a tad too excited after the welcome – absolutely creams his tee shot and watches it leap along the fairway to the back of a bunker on the right. His ball doesn’t look plugged though. He could be all right.

There are hugs all around from Europeans as they gather at the first tee. For USA, Spieth and Thomas emerge to a pantomime villain’s reception. “Boooooo!” I don’t think there is much malice in the jeers, though. From a USA perspective, at least Thomas and Spieth go into their fourball match having played no part in the difficult morning session. They’ll be fired up and fresh. They need to be.

Hello everyone. Gregg here. If you thought it was loud at Marco Simone this morning, you should hear it now. It’s raucous out there! And it will only get louder when Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton emerge to take on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in the first of the afternoon fourballs. They will tee off shortly.

Right, I’m off to process what we’ve just witnessed. Gregg Bakowski will be on point when the afternoon fourballs take to the course. See you again in a wee while!

11.25am: Viktor Hovland / Tyrrell Hatton v Justin Thomas / Jordan Spieth
11.40am: Jon Rahm / Nicolai Hojgaard v Scottie Scheffler / Brooks Koepka
11.55am: Robert McIntyre / Justin Rose v Max Homa / Wyndham Clark
12.10pm: Rory McIlroy / Matt Fitzpatrick v Collin Morikawa / Xander Schauffele

Patrick Cantlay sends a highly decent tee shot into 17. Maybe 15 feet short of the flag. Rory McIlroy responds by creaming an iron to three feet. One bounce, stop. Surely a birdie, and assuming Tommy Fleetwood doesn’t yip this chance away, it looks like Xander Schauffele will have to drain his birdie effort to send this match up 18!

1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (16)
Europe 3-0 USA

Schauffele pours in the birdie putt, and this final match remains in the balance. It’s a fine effort from Schauffele and Cantlay, who have battled well on the back nine to stay in this.

1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (16)
Europe 3-0 USA

Europe’s ball is in the penalty area. It’s submerged, but playable. A smack and hope. McIlroy does amazingly well to bash out. A huge divot half the size of Rome lands on the green … but so does the ball, albeit with a massive lump of mud on it, so there’s no roll-out. Still, from where Europe were, a 40-foot birdie chance is a decent outcome. However Patrick Cantlay having wedged close from the bunker, this is serious advantage to the USA.

… and nothing’s certain yet. Tommy Fleetwood flirts with the water to the right of 16. It’s not clear where his ball has ended up. No ripples in the lake. Is it plugged in the rough? In the penalty area? Or has it toppled gently into the drink? We’ll find out soon. In the meantime, Xander Schauffele sends America’s tee shot into a bunker front left of the green.

A huge couple of moments for Europe there. The USA looked to have gained a little momentum for the first time this morning. But it was too little, too late for Fowler and Morikawa, but at least they made Lowry and Straka work for their point. As for Cantlay and Schauffele … well, what a time to three-putt, just as it looked as though they were about to square the match. This anchor match is so important for the USA now.

2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (15)
Europe 3-0 USA

Patrick Cantlay nearly drains his 25-foot birdie putt … but races it three feet past. That’s not dead, and it shows a chink of light to Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy having wedged Europe’s third to 20 feet. And then Fleetwood’s putter suddenly warms up! He rattles it into the centre of the cup, and suddenly Xander Schauffele’s putt looks that little bit longer! He pulls it nervously, it horseshoes out, and what looked like a surefire win for Team USA is a hole for Europe!

2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (16)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (15)
Europe 2-0 USA

… so having built Morikawa up thus, he dunks his tee shot into a pot bunker guarding the front of the par-three. Straka finds the dancefloor, 30 feet to the left of the flag but pin high. Another point within reach for Europe here, unless Rickie Fowler can come up with some bunker magic.

Sepp Straka can’t make his 15-footer for par, and there’s no requirement for Rickie Fowler to putt out. Team USA cut the lead and with iron genius Collin Morikawa taking the tee shot at the par-three 17th, suddenly snatching half a point is no longer a pipe dream for the USA!

2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (16)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (14)
Europe 2-0 USA

Lowry can only whip out of the cabbage to 15 feet on 16, and this hole is pretty much in America’s pocket. Meanwhile back on 15, Fleetwood flashes out of the rough but McIlroy will be approaching from a long way out. Schauffele takes USA’s second from the centre of the fairway, and finds the heart of the green. Not particularly close, but then Europe are in a spot of trouble here.

Lowry’s left Straka with a tricky shot from thick rough over water to the right of 16. He blades it through the green and into thick oomska behind. Collin Morikawa wedges to four feet, and this match isn’t over yet. Back on 15, McIlroy slices into the gallery down the right, hitting some poor woman on the top of the noggin. This match certainly isn’t over. For the first time today, there’s a little momentum behind Team USA! Just a smidgen at the moment, but they’ll take whatever’s on offer right now. Meanwhile here’s Tom Britten: “Viktor dropping an s-bomb at 10am live on Sky, giving zero [word redacted by Guardian Morning Swearies Editor]. We’re just living in his world now.”

For the second time on the back nine, Shane Lowry takes a fairway wood off the tee, and sends it miles right, this time at the driveable par-four 16th. So far wide that it sails over the pond on that side of the hole. Fair to say he’s got away with that one. Rickie Fowler’s tee shot ends up just short of the green. Meanwhile back on 14, some hope for Team USA, as Tommy Fleetwood’s left-to-right 30-footer shaves the lip, but Xander Schauffele’s straight ten-footer drops for birdie. Back in it!

3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (15)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (14)
Europe 2-0 USA

Collin Morikawa makes like Viktor Hovland from the bunker at 15. He splashes out to kick-in distance, and Rickie Fowler is able to tidy up for the par and the half that extends the match. But Europe are dormie three now.

3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (15)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (13)
Europe 2-0 USA

Sky probe Viktor Hovland about his wild celebrations upon splashing out from sand at 15 to seal his match. “It wasn’t the most ideal spot but I knew it was doable. It was one of those things when you hit a good shot, it goes in, and you lose your shit!” Well they did ask.

Rickie Fowler’s wild drive down the left of 14 puts his pairing on the back foot from the get-go. Collin Morikawa can’t drain a par putt from the fringe, and bogey is the ugly result. The USA hand the hole they’ve just picked up straight back. With holes running out, it was something they simply couldn’t afford to do. Meanwhile Xander Schauffele very nearly guides in his 25-foot left-to-right curler on 13, but the ball shaves the left lip. That was a fine putt and deserved to drop; nothing’s going America’s way at present. Tommy Fleetwood races his birdie effort three feet past, but Rory McIlroy’s nerves hold for the half. This final match would nearly be over if Fleetwood’s putter was working properly.

3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (14)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (13)
Europe 2-0 USA

Rory McIlroy’s tee shot at the par-three 13th isn’t all that. Pin high, but a good 20 feet wide right. The door’s slightly ajar for Patrick Cantlay, but his effort is of a similar garden variety. A slight advantage to the USA, only in so much as they’re a bit further out, and will therefore have the first opportunity to rake in a mid-range birdie putt and put some matchplay pressure on their opponent.

2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (13)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (12)
Europe 2-0 USA

McIlroy’s long iron into 12 draws to 12 feet. Big eagle chance coming up for Fleetwood. But Schauffele will have an eagle putt as well, Cantlay having left him pin high with a 25-foot left-to-right slider. He nearly makes it, too, but the putt stops one dimple short. McIlroy will have a big chance to put some serious distance between the teams now.

Some hope for the USA in match three, as Rickie Fowler sends a 40-foot tramliner into the cup at 13 to reduce arrears to two holes! A momentum-changer there, perhaps. But it’s nearly all over for the US in the lead match, as Sam Burns can only lash out from the thick rough at 14. Scottie Scheffler doesn’t wedge particularly close, and Europe will have two points for the win!

4UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (14)
4UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (14)
2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (13)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (11)

McIlroy makes his birdie putt and Europe go two up in the anchor match. Meanwhile it’s nearly all over, surely, in the lead match. Rahm’s tee shot at 15 finds a fairway bunker down the left, but no matter, because Hatton lashes the second into the heart of the green. Over to Sam Burns in deep rough to the left of the fairway … but before that can happen, Brian Harman misses a 15-footer for birdie on 14, Viktor Hovland walks in a ten-footer, and Europe are dormie four in that match as well!

4UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (14)
4UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (14)
3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (12)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (11)

Xander Schauffele catches his wedge into 11 fat. That’ll open the door for Tommy Fleetwood, who nearly holes his chip from the thick rough. Patrick Cantlay can’t make his long birdie putt, and Rory McIlroy will have an opportunity to re-establish a two-hole cushion. Meanwhile up on 12, Collin Morikawa sets up Rickie Fowler for eagle with a heat-seeker of an iron, but Sepp Straka walks in a 15-foot birdie putt and that rattles Fowler, who pulls his putt. A street-fighting half for Europe.

Team USA are in real trouble in the lead match. Sam Burns flays their tee shot at 14 ludicrously wide left. Scottie Scheffler, hitting next to a cart path and snookered by a tree, can’t find the green. Sam Burns wedges to three feet and they escape with par. Europe make a fine up and down of their own, Tyrrell Hatton wedging from 134 yards to four feet, Jon Rahm tidying up, and Europe are dormie four.

4UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (14)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (12)
3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (11)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (10)

Xander Schauffele wedges to six feet at 10. That cranks up the pressure on Tommy Fleetwood, who responds sensationally by nearly holing out from 45 yards. Patrick Cantlay does extremely well to hold his nerve and make his par putt to halve the hole. Both teams will feel like they’ve got away with one there.

4UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (13)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (12)
3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (11)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (9)

Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry and Max Homa pass up good hole-winning opportunities on 13, 11 and 12 respectively. The putts all of a sudden not dropping, the tension cranking up as the matches get closer to the business end.

4UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (13)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (12)
3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (11)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (9)

Now it’s Xander Schauffele’s turn to eff and jeff, forcing Sky into the making of more grovelling apologies. And there’s GB News thinking they have it bad. He’s very fortunate his ball doesn’t disappear into the creek down the right, but it’s still bad enough to reduce Patrick Cantlay into hacking out from the penalty area back into play. But Rory McIlroy keeps Team USA in it, his approach toppling off the false front of the green and 60 yards back down the fairway. Couple of big approaches coming up.

Jon Rahm at the par-three 13th. “Come on, come on!” he shouts after his ball with irritation. No reason why, because his tee shot arcs over the flag and lands 12 feet away. Over to Scottie Scheffler, who responds gamely, setting up a 15-foot birdie putt for his partner.

More trouble for the USA in the lead match. Sam Burns sends his drive into a bunker down the right. Scottie Scheffler catches his iron from the sand heavy. Burns comes up short of the green, and with the Europeans on in two, that’s yet another hole shipped by the USA. But some better news down the card, as the mistakes made from the tee by Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy on 10 and 9 respectively cost Europe holes.

4UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (12)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (11)
3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (10)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (9)

Rory McIlroy’s wild drive at 9 forces Tommy Fleetwood to take his medicine and hack out from knee-high rough. He can only send the ball across the fairway into more oomska down the right. McIlroy makes up for his error by lashing his third into the green. On in regulation, with a long birdie putt to come, though the Americans are well inside the Europeans. The hosts at least have some sort of chance to scramble a tie.

“Aw shit!” Shane Lowry with a little morning swearie as he sends his tee shot at 10 into the creek down the right. Sky are forced to issue an apology on the big man’s behalf, this being a very long time before the watershed, and that’s a huge error from the 2019 Open champion, who had taken a fairway wood for safety! Better news meanwhile for Europe in the lead match, where Jon Rahm drives the green. Birdie, and the world number one and his partner are in serious bother now.

3UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (11)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (10)
4UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (9)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (8)

Sepp Straka wedges Europe’s third to four feet at the par-five 9th. Shane Lowry makes the putt, gently pumps the air with his fist, and Europe hit the turn four holes to the good against a seriously out-of-sorts Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa. Meanwhile Patrick Cantlay’s error on 8 proves costly, Europe winning the hole, and while there’s still an awfully long way to travel this morning, the scoreboard is beginning to look a little ugly from an American perspective.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (10)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (10)
4UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (9)
2UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (8)

An absurd error by Patrick Cantlay on 8. With Rory McIlroy forced to lay up, gouging out from rough, Cantlay hooks from the centre of the fairway into the centre of the pond to the left. That was miles from dry land! All of a sudden, a hole that looked a likely American win is back in the balance … and it’s advantage Europe as Tommy Fleetwood flings a dart to ten feet.

Jon Rahm, this is outrageous! Europe are out of position from the get-go on 10. Tyrrell Hatton finds the thick stuff down the right, Rahm can only gouge out into more rough down the left, Hatton leaves the third short of the green. Team USA are on in three, with Scottie Scheffler waiting to take a six-foot par putt. Serious advantage USA … but then Rahm absolutely dunks a chip into the cup. Had that not hit the hole, it was flying miles past. But in it goes, and now Scheffler has to make the putt for the half. In it goes, but that’ll sicken the Americans nonetheless. Matchplay golf, it’s a hell of a game!

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (10)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (9)
3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (8)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (7)

Rickie Fowler, having taken his drop on 8, can’t get anywhere near the pin and it’s a three-hole lead for the hosts in the third match. Ditto in the second, which sees Ludwig Aberg – the first player in Ryder Cup history to have never played in any of the majors – walk in a 25-footer to get the gallery seriously going. But Tommy Fleetwood misses the good chance Rory McIlroy sets up for him from ten feet on 7.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (9)
3UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (9)
3UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (8)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (7)

Collin Morikawa plops his approach at the long par-four 8th into the blue vagueness. With the Americans wet, Sepp Straka turns up the heat and settles his nerves by creaming a delicious second to ten feet, setting up Shane Lowry for a big birdie chance. Europe can almost taste a three-hole lead. Think I need some breakfast.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (9)
2UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (8)
2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (7)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (6)

A classic matchplay swing of fortune on 9. Scheffler works out where to drop next to the water, then whips a stunning wedge from 60 yards to seven feet. Rahm then blades a chip 20 feet past the flag. He’s left Hatton too much to do. Just the par, and the USA have the chance to escape with a half. Burns makes up for his earlier error by walking in the par putt, and what an up and down for the USA! Three down at the turn would have been a real problem for the visitors.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (9)
2UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (8)
2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (7)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (5)

Rickie Fowler has been ill this week. A little more colour drains from his face at 7, where he races a downhill birdie putt six feet past the hole. His partner Collin Morikawa can’t make the one coming back, and Europe are now two up in three matches.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (8)
2UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (7)
2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (7)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (5)

Sam Burns has looked a little shaky all morning, and his problems continue at 9. He pulls the USA’s second into water down the left of the par-five. Tyrrell Hatton responds by playing the percentages, sending Europe’s second down a swale to the right of the green, not going anywhere near the briny that’s claimed Burns. The hole’s not exactly over, but it’s advantage Europe.

Viktor Hovland and Rickie Fowler take turns to miss potential hole-winning putts at 7 and 6 respectively. We move on.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (8)
2UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (7)
1UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (6)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (4)

The joy of six. Had Jon Rahm’s tee shot at 7 dropped, he’d have become only the seventh player to ace at the Ryder Cup. For the record, here’s the complete list … and it’s a curious quirk that only one American has made a hole in one in the tournament’s long history …

• Peter Butler (1973, Muirfield, 16th)

• Nick Faldo (1993, The Belfry, 14th)

• Costantino Rocca (1995, Oak Hill, 6th)

• Howard Clark (1995, Oak Hill, 11th)

• Paul Casey (2006, The K Club, 14th)

• Scott Verplank (2006, The K Club, 14th)

Tommy Fleetwood lands his tee shot pin high to four feet. Rory McIlroy tidies up for birdie, and Europe now lead in all four matches. Remind yourself there’s a long, long, long way to go yet. Meanwhile, Tyrrell Hatton misses a short birdie putt that would have put Europe three up in the lead match.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (8)
2UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (6)
1UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (5)
1UP McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay (4)

Aberg rattles in his first birdie putt of the week on 6. A determined fist pump, and there still hasn’t been a halved hole in match two. Meanwhile the inevitable happens on 5, in the wake of Straka’s error from the tee … though Lowry did his level best to salvage the situation, nearly holing out from the drop zone. Birdie for the USA seals that particular deal.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (7)
2UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (6)
1UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (5)
McIlroy/Fleetwood A/S Schauffele/Cantlay (3)

Jon Rahm nearly makes an ace at the par-three 7th! He sends a high draw into the green. A couple of bounces later, it clanks the flag and goodness knows how it didn’t drop. Birdie, and Sam Burns is unable to chip in to rescue the situation for the USA. Meanwhile Europe go two up in the third match as well, Shane Lowry going close with his tee shot at 4 to set up birdie … though how long that lead will be maintained is moot, because Sepp Straka dunks his drive at 5 into the drink.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (7)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (5)
2UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (4)
McIlroy/Fleetwood A/S Schauffele/Cantlay (3)

Hatton doesn’t quite hit his birdie putt on 6. Always short, always to the left. Scheffler having spun his wedge back to four feet, Burns tidies up to cut America’s arrears. Back on 3, Europe make birdie to the USA’s bogey. Meanwhile some very strange behaviour at the drivable par-four 5th. Max Homa’s tee shot sends Brian Harman into the thickest of rough to the left of the green. The rough’s almost as tall as he is! Harman can only lash out, the ball sailing straight through the green and back down the fairway. Homa pulls Texas wedge, but leaves his man well short. Aberg, with two putts to win the hole, seriously underhits his putt, failing to get it over a ridge, a misjudgement that leaves Hovland 15 feet short. Hovland can’t make the birdie putt, though it doesn’t matter anyway as Harman is unable to make the 15-footer of his own for par. Europe hit the lead again!

1UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (6)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (5)
1UP Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa (3)
McIlroy/Fleetwood A/S Schauffele/Cantlay (2)

Our friend Steven Pye, of That 1980s Sports Blog fame, has compiled a Ryder Cup quiz. “It is quite tough,” he admits, “but the Ryder Cup is not supposed to be easy.”

Europe double their lead in the opening match! Scheffler can’t make a 20-footer on the short par-four 5th, and with Hatton having set up Rahm a two-footer, the die is cast. But Homa and Harman complete their short-order comeback in the second rubber as Aberg’s tee shot at the par-three 4th finds rough to the left of the green. Hovland, short-sided, gets too cute with his flop and leaves it in the thick stuff. Aberg hits the flag with Europe’s second attempt to get out, and momentarily celebrates only to stop in his tracks when the ball fails to disappear. He smiles excitedly anyway, despite losing the hole. So close to an unlikely escape.

2UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (5)
Hovland/Aberg A/S Homa/Harman (4)
Lowry/Straka A/S Fowler/Morikawa (2)
McIlroy/Fleetwood A/S Schauffele/Cantlay (1)

Jon Rahm nearly drains a 30-footer across the par-three 4th. Nearly but not quite. The door’s open for Scottie Scheffler, but his birdie putt from eight feet dribbles past on the right. He looks after it agog. Scheffler’s struggles with the flat stick are a matter of record, and if this is any sort of harbinger, it could be a long week for the big man. Better news for the USA on 3, though, where Viktor Hovland hits the flagstick with his chip, only for Max Homa to drain a long birdie putt across the green to reduce America’s arrears in match two.

1UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (4)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (3)
Lowry/Straka A/S Fowler/Morikawa (1)
McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay

Rory McIlroy’s career record at the Ryder Cup isn’t quite as good as one might assume. He’s 12-12-4 overall. It means everything to him, though, as those tears upon beating Xander Schauffele in the singles at Whistling Straits, after an otherwise unproductive showing, demonstrated. The weight thus on his shoulders, he sends his opening drive into the rough down the right. Patrick Cantlay’s disappears into the cabbage on the other side. This fairway has been left untouched for the most part.

Viktor Hovland does it again! Aberg’s chip from the rough at the back of the green ends up 15 feet away. Buoyed by the knowledge that his opponents have failed to get up and down from the sand, Hovland walks in the putt, and there goes that roof again! Meanwhile an escape for Europe back on 1, as Lowry pushes his par putt, only for Fowler to miss a tickly one from shorter range. Hole halved in bogey, and this is a very decent start for the hosts.

1UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (3)
2UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (2)
Lowry/Straka A/S Fowler/Morikawa (1)
McIlroy/Fleetwood v Schauffele/Cantlay

“The greatest weekend in live sport is here. Go Team Europe! Is it healthy to have nerves like this at 7am in the morning?” Probably not, Paul Maguire. Think how the poor players feel. Lowry and Fowler both lash their second shots out of the rough on 1 just short of the green. Neither Straka nor Morikawa go particularly close with their chips. Putting contest coming up.

Nerves latest: From the centre of the 2nd fairway, Homa and Hovland take turns to miss the green on either side. The USA in a bunker on the left, Europe in rough back right. Meanwhile up on 3, Sam Burns sends a very skittish shot into bother down the right of the hole. Scheffler can’t get particularly close with his chip, and opens the door for Rahm, who steers in a left-to-right swinging putt from the fringe and puts Europe up in the lead match!

1UP Rahm/Hatton v Scheffler/Burns (3)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (1)
Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa

Collin Morikawa’s opening shot is a nervy one. His drive sails off towards the gallery on the right, and clanks some poor dude upside the head. His ball nestles in thick rough … though not as thick as the rough Sepp Straka finds down the left of the hole. That was even more jittery, and won’t have settled the Austrian debutant’s nerves any. Meanwhile the US captain Zach Johnson is taking the barracking his team are copping from the home gallery in good spirit: “Fans are the engine behind the Ryder Cup, whether here or back home,” he tells Sky with a smile. “The energy, the passion, makes it special.”

Rahm/Hatton A/S Scheffler/Burns (2)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (1)
Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa

If there was a roof over Marco Simeone, it would be coptering over Sardinia right now! That’s because the gallery roars its approval as Hovland elects to chip from the fringe at the back of 1. Facing almost 90 degrees to the right of the hole, he utilises the camber along the edge of the green to bring the ball round and set it on its journey curling into the cup! He punches the air, the first wild celebration of the week. First blow made by Europe! Meanwhile the lads out first halve the 2nd in par.

Rahm/Hatton A/S Scheffler/Burns (2)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (1)
Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa

Well, OK, but the 23-year-old debutant is going to feel the nerves as well. Understandably so. Aberg’s wedge into 1 isn’t the best, pushed a few yards right and long, but Europe’s ball holds the green, just, and Hovland will be able to putt from 50 feet. Harman sets up a much more makeable chance for Homa, 30 feet out.

The second match takes to the first tee. Max Homa, who partners the Open champion Brian Harman, sends his drive down the right-hand side of the fairway. Viktor Hovland, going round with his fellow Scandinavian, the debutant Ludvig Aberg, follows him down there, and passes him a good way too, having absolutely crunched his opening drive. “Two for two in fairways so far, my boys are ready,” smiles Luke Donald on Sky Sports. “I’m not worried about any of my guys. They’re ready. [Ludvig] is going to crush it.”

Scheffler’s up to the task! He bumps his chip up and across the green, from the best part of 30 yards, straight at the cup. The ball pings the flagstick but doesn’t drop. So close to the most sensational of starts for the USA, but it’s just par. Rahm’s putt never threatens to disappear, and it’s honours halved on the opening hole in the opening match. What a chip by Scheffler! The USA pass their first test and that’s a statement of intent all right.

Rahm/Hatton A/S Scheffler/Burns (1)
Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman

Hatton settles his nerves with a solid approach into the green. He sends Europe’s second to 20 feet. Burns has to muscle America’s ball out of some juicy rough, and can’t quite reach the green. His ball ends up on the apron at the front, leaving Scheffler plenty of work to do.

The first hole at Marco Simone is a gentle dogleg left. Scottie Scheffler his the first shot of the 2023 Ryder Cup down it. His ball nestles in thick rough on the left. Not the ideal start for the USA. Jon Rahm takes Europe’s first shot and whistles it to a much safer position on the right of the fairway. Advantage Europe but needless to say there’s still quite a long way to go and many twists and turns to be taken. Anyway, it’s on! The 2023 Ryder Cup is on!

“HÚH!” Iceland has never produced a player for the European team, but the country does its bit by lending the fans their famous thunderclap. One heck of an atmosphere at the first tee as anticipation rises. There’s plenty of “Luuuuuuuke!” too as Captain Donald waves to the crowd, and of course some pantomime boos as Zach Johnson shows his face. Then finally the bedlam we’ve all been waiting for, as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton emerge from the tunnel. Hatton raises a fist, then claps his partner on the back. Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns then turn up, the world number one turning to the crowd contributing to the panto fun as he turns to the gallery and performatively shrugs his shoulders, as if to ask why they’re not cheering. He knows why. Only at the Ryder Cup. Here we go, then!